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The Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents and Associated Risk Factors: An Example from Turkey

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Abstract

Introduction

Identifying risk factors is important in intervening in suicide, which is a preventable cause of death in adolescents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and risk factors for suicidal thought in high school students aged 15–18 years.

Methods

The data were obtained from questionnaire forms administered to 2438 high school students aged 15–18 years. Risk factors that might be associated with suicidal thought were identified using logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of suicidal ideation in adolescents in the last 12 months was 17.9%. Being female [OR 1.95, (CI 95% 1.47–2.59)], use of alcohol [OR 2.44, (CI 95% 1.63–3.68)] and addictive drugs [OR 1.78, (CI 95% 1.07–2.97)], being in physical fights [OR 1.76, (CI 95% 1.34–2.32)], having no close friends [OR 2.17, (CI 95% 1.34–3.52)], bullying(victimization) [OR 1.99, (CI 95% 1.43–2.77)], and other psychosocial distress were significant risk factors in the development of suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

Solutions for decreasing risky behaviors for health, particularly the use of alcohol and addictive drugs, prevention of violence between peers, and strengthening of social relationships, must be developed.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the participants of the study

Funding

No funding or sponsorship was received for this study or publication of this article. The article processing charges were funded by the authors.

Editorial Assistance

Thank you to Dr Kamil Kalaycı for editing in English.

Authorship

All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this article, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given their approval for this version to be published.

Disclosures

The authors (Dr Sevgi Canbaz and Dr Özlem Terzi) declared that this study has received no financial support and have nothing to disclose.

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Correspondence to Sevgi Canbaz.

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Canbaz, S., Terzi, Ö. The Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents and Associated Risk Factors: An Example from Turkey. Adv Ther 35, 839–846 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-018-0720-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-018-0720-2

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